I don't know if the regular ECP users have seen the notice recently put up near the start of the path to Whitebottom Farm. If you haven't, take a look AND OBJECT unless, as it appears, you would like to be birding to the accompanyment of 'live' music events and such (yes, really).

Go to the following web address for more info and act as you think fit. http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/business/licensing11/fooddrinkentertainment/licensingat2003appsrep/currentlicenceapplications

10.00 - 12.30 with Tony DarbyA stunning total of 40 Mandarins present: 28 at the weir and 12 in the channel from the main lakePair Dippers very active at the weirTawny Owl heard from Ernocroft WoodEgyptian Goose on Keg Pool honking furiously for a mateMute Swans ZP4 and 4ADL at the weir and juvenile 4ADJ on the main lake at the model boat endBuzzard over mobbed by a Carrion Crow

Saw pair of buzzards on path to Low from park and small murder of rooks and jackdaw on Low/Nuthatch and coal tit on table near Sunny Corner.Also saw two groups of long tailed tits.Egyptian goose on table at hide and chaffinch and cormorants up river.

A trip to Ludworth this morning turned into a trip to Etherow when I realised how long its been since I last birded there in earnest. I have been once or twice but it's just to busy over the weekend.

Anyway not much out of the ordinary;

2 large tit flocks through the park.3 Goldcrest mixed in with the above.11 Nuthatch seen in various places.11 Tufted Duck 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker4 Bullfinch1 Chiffchaff heard calling while I was walking to the hide, took me a while to locate but managed to see it on the other side of the river low down.

Not been getting much sleep these past couple of days so decided rather than stay in I'd make the most of the nice mornings we've been having and go down Etherow. All in all it turned out to be quite a fruitful day;

Three broods of mandarin at least. One coot took a pop at one of the duckling. It was duffed up by Mum Mandarin. Also Dipper, pair Grey Wagtails, Buzzard, Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Lots of Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Gold Crest, Little Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tufted Duck and Swifts. No Egyptian Goose or Great Crested Grebes on main lodge

A male Brambling at the back of the house near the pump house.A common sandpiper flew on to the left banking of the main lake and flew off to the opposite banking when a dog approached.Swallows flying into a disused fan hole in the side of the old boat house.3 Buzzard Several blackcap Plenty of coot with young around keg pool Surprisingly not a single cormorant on the usual tree viewed from the hide.also no Mandarin at the back of the pump house but there were a few canadas chasing everything off. also some aggressive canadas guarding path to hide.Dipper on rocks closest to the weir.

Went down through Ernocroft Woods to the hide and back briefly yesterday late morning.

Plenty of tits around (usual 4 species). Greenfinches part way down and a nuthatch calling up near the road. Needless to say, no new arrivals.

From the hide (someone had left the gate and hide door open!), twelve teal - 1m1f to the left + 3m3f a little up to the right + 4m up in the distance to the right. Usual cormorants and a few Canada geese. Great spotted woodpecker calling. No tufted ducks nor mandarins seen from the hide in perhaps my 45mins there.

8 Tufted Duck (3m + 5f) at the back of the pump house19 Mandarin (7f + 12m) as above1 Heron1 Treecreeper6 goosander (3m + 3f)1 Tawny Owl being chased by crows.Finally just as I got back to the car a kestrel flew over the car park

And finally on the hill up through Ernocroft:Stock Dove (heard up above the right-angle turn in the path where there's some private property beyond).Goldfinch flew over, calling.And another Great Spotted Woodpecker - calling.

26 Mandarin in two groups - 17 by the weir, 9 in the back waters on the way back to the car park2 male goosander flying upstreamthere seemed to be Robins singing every 50 metres or so9 tufted duck5 cormorants8 Long Tailed Tits4 Dunnock

One small area of the main lake remained unfrozen and so housed most of the Canada's with an estimation of between 150 - 200 birds.2 large Jackdaw flocks heading into roost with c1000 birds15 Mandarin (3f + 12m) at the pump house10 Tufted Duck (6m + 4f) seen from the hide1 Heron3 Teal all male 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker1 Dipper from the Weir1 Buzzard1 Wren 5 Goosander (2m + 3f) on the river by Keg pool

Much the same as John, in a late morning visit, 20 Mandarins including 9 females, 9 on the stream just after the main lake causeway & the rest up near the Pump House, Egyptian Goose on Keg Pool as well as a pair of Goosander, and another female Goosander on the main lake.